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Mounting Sako Model 85 Plug-n-Play with Optilocks

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Rask View Drop Down
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    Posted: February/04/2016 at 17:20
I recently purchased a Sako Model 85 Finnlight in .300 WSM, and just found a Leupold VX-6 to put on it. I ordered the Sako Optilocks base mounts and rings.   After watching many videos and reading up on how to properly mount a scope, and not knowing a fine gunsmith in my area, I grew doubtful that one of the big box stores would do a meticulous job so I decided to do it myself.  

I ordered the Wheeler scope mounting kit with all the alignment and lapping bars, torque driver, and levels.  Everything arrived and I setup on my gun vise on the kitchen table at lunch with 4 hours before the wife comes home.  

Here are some things that made the job go much easier than I expected:
  • The base is designed specifically for the dovetails on the rifle. There is no guesswork about how far forward or back to mount them.  They align perfectly with the ejector port for a clean look. 
  • The rings mount to the bases in such a way that aligning them perfectly is easy. 
  • The Optilock rings come with a polymer insert that allows several degrees of alignment rotation even if you couldn't align the rings perfectly.  I tried using the alignment rods from the wheeler kit, but with the polymer rings it was obvious alignment would not be an issue. You could have put put the rings on visibly crooked and still have the scope true. 
  • The rear base has a pin that fits in the top of the receiver to ensure no movement is caused by recoil.  

So everything just fit together like Legos with no guesswork.  On 18x magnification my sight picture was edge to edge, with the scope maximum forward and everything level.  The whole job took less than 2 hours.  From the Wheeler scope kit I used the levels, the lock tight, and the torque driver.  

Next I will be bore sighting it.  That will be the proof, but at this point I am very happy with the Optilocks installation process.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rask Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 17:24
Oh, I should also mention that the action of the Sako 85 .300 WSM is "SM" and takes the "Short" Optilock bases.  I used the extra low rings and my Leupold VX-6 44mm objective has lots of clearance.  The 50mm version would also have no problem with the extra low rings.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 17:33
Very cool. Thanks for sharing. 

I'm not a big Optilock guy, (well documented), but sounds like they suit you and that's all that matters.
I do like they way the pin "locks" the base on though. 
What did you use Lock Tite on?

If I haven't done so before, welcome to Optilocks....er Optics Talk, I mean. Wink   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rask Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 18:57
Thanks for the welcome Cheaptrick! Howdy

The jury is still out until I get it boresighted to determine how much it takes to zero.  Probably going to the store to get that done, and might buy one myself.  Any recommendations on type?  I own a number of different calibers in rifle and handgun.  


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 19:10
I use the redneck bore sight method, Friend. 

Pull the bolt out, line up on something about 25 yards out through the bore. Click the scope in so the reticle is relatively lining up with the object in the bore. 
Shoot a big ass piece of paper at 25 yards and adjust accordingly. Take it out to 100 yards when you get your 25 yard zero set up.   

The last time I had a guy bore sight a scope for me, was on a Sako 75, a Zeiss Conquest and Optilocks, coincidentally. I still had to tweak it when he was done.  
  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peddler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 19:13
Up here we call it the " Woodchuck " way😎😎😎
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 19:19
I even do this with AR's. 5 rounds...tops.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rainman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/04/2016 at 22:31
Hard to beat Cheptrick's method of bore sighting-no euqipment or batteries to buy and no little pieces to break or keep track of. The picture you see at 25 yards usually gets you on paper and fairly close to zero at 100 yards with most standard rifle calibers.  Pretty simple process after a couple tries.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rask Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 09:19
Thanks for saving me the cost of picking up a laser boresight!  
But it didn't cost anything to have the guy at the gun counter drool over my VX-6 as he used the little boresight dohicky.  Windage was a quarter turn off, elevation one click!  Does the windage adjustment sound about normal or is it something I should worry about before taking it to the range?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 09:45
Shoot her in. I try to get a 5 shot group established at 100 yards. 

That VX-6 is a sweetie. 

Come back and I'll post your pics for you, if you like. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 12:22
Welcome to the OT forums Rask! Sounds like your "operation" was a success. I've used the optilocks on my Sako 75 without major issue...the polymer inserts are nice. They are a bit blocky / heavy, but will get the job done. As CT says... shoot it in... the boresighting just gets you close for a final tweak! Good luck.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 12:53
Originally posted by Rask Rask wrote:

But it didn't cost anything to have the guy at the gun counter drool over my VX-6 as he used the little boresight dohicky.  Windage was a quarter turn off, elevation one click!  Does the windage adjustment sound about normal or is it something I should worry about before taking it to the range?

Sometimes these are close, sometimes they aren't even on paper, no way to answer your question without seeing the setup and knowing the skill of the guy that did the work.

I have a boresighter but seldom use it.  I have had great success in the "down the bore, adjust the scope to match" method, using this almost exclusively and to great effect.

There is no good way to sight in a gun that doesn't involve putting rounds on target.  It is sighted in only when it puts your rounds on target at a designated distance.  No amount of interaction with a device in a store changes that simple truth.

Good luck, sounds like a nice setup.  I am a hardcore 300WM fan, might have been a WSM fan had I not been shooting WM for many years when the WSM came out.  Great caliber, great bullet selection.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rask Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 13:00
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:


Sometimes these are close, sometimes they aren't even on paper, no way to answer your question without seeing the setup and knowing the skill of the guy that did the work.

Thanks, yes I certainly will be taking it to the range this weekend to zero it in... can't wait!

My question was really whether a quarter turn of the windage dial is an acceptable amount of optical adjustment, or if I should consider shims to reduce the amount of windage adjustment required by the optics?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 14:33
I'm not sure what you mean there. 

You mean your a quarter turn off from a true mechanical center, or what? I don't understand your question.    

If your a quarter turn off one way or the other from the scopes mechanical center, that's no big deal really.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rask Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 14:44
Yes, that is what I meant.  Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2016 at 14:47
Ya didn't Lock Tite the cap screws, did ya?? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2016 at 18:59
Send pic to Rangerconcrete@gmail.com 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/09/2016 at 04:26
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